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Here is the immigration guide in plain language.
Immigration for everyone else
As a general rule, citizens of other countries will need a permanent job offer in order to be granted a residence permit. You must normally have found a job first, although there is a permit available for job seekers, with restrictions. What residence permit you should apply for depends on your competence and the type of work you will be doing in Norway.
The most common permit is available to skilled workers. This is for people with higher education who will be using those qualifications in the job. The salary must be at least NOK 410,500 pre-tax if the job requires a master’s degree, or at least 381,000 per year pre-tax if the job requires a bachelor’s degree, unless a collective agreement applies.
Successful applications are usually able to bring their immediate family (partner and children) with them. Read our full guide to immigration from outside Europe for more information on who qualifies as a skilled worker, plus all the categories of work permit available including for ethnic cooks, au pairs, and offshore workers.
Practical matters
Relocating to a new country is not a straightforward task. Before you make the move, take some time to begin your Norwegian language education. There are lots of free resources out there to get you started.
The biggest hurdle you’ll face without a good grip on the language is finding a job. While there are jobs out there that require English speakers, most Norwegians speak English fluently anyway, so you have no real advantage.
Learning the language will also be of great help with everyday living such as finding somewhere to live and shopping for goods and services. Don’t forget, most people applying for permanent residence will need to prove their language abilities.
Staying in Norway permanently
At the time of writing, there is no time limit on how long European citizens can stay in Norway once you have registered. Your entitlement to welfare benefits and the state pension depends on how long you’ve lived in Norway and your employment status.
If you’ve been living in Norway for several years with a residence permit, you could consider making your stay more concrete with a permanent residence permit, or even citizenship. The rules for both of these are quite complex and depend on your own personal circumstances.